IC Inbox (v1.0)

[jumpthegun]

You've reached Dr. John Watson. Please leave a message.

Comments

[jumpthegun]

[But his guardian complex, Alfie! John just leaves that for now.]

Where are you going today? And... I'd really appreciate you keeping Fiona away, actually. Just for today. It's for the Joker and safety, yeah? But I'm also going to have to cut off part of my ear today - frostbite. I'd rather her not be there for that.

[devoutish]

Does she want to be there for it?

[jumpthegun]

Dunno. I didn't ask her or invite her. I've already got England and Luna fussing. I don't need someone else who might bump up the chances of meeting an anomaly in the middle of it all.

[devoutish]

Why not send them away?

[jumpthegun]

Luna's the one doing the procedure and you try telling the living embodiment of our country to shove off after he's just saved your life out in the snow, mate.

[devoutish]

[Okay, point. Alfie would still probably do it if it were him, but point.]

You talked to her?

[jumpthegun]

Fiona? Yeah. I told her we could meet at the clinic.

[devoutish]

And she agreed?

[jumpthegun]

More or less. I know she wants to see me, Mr. Solomons. I'd like to see her, as well. It's just not a good time right now for safety and personal reasons.

[devoutish]

Why are you trying to convince me? Seems you've got it sorted between the two of you. It's settled then, yeah?

[jumpthegun]

[Because she's stubborn and might want to do it anyway.]

I said more or less. I'd just prefer that if she decides to try to risk it anyway after we've spoken that you stop her from doing that. I know you don't care for me. You're easier to convince than she is.

[devoutish]

I can talk to her, but I'm not gonna tie her hands behind her back.

[Innocent metaphor or intentional, biting reference? You be the judge.]

Tell me, is it easy to tell yourself that I hate you? Does it make you feel better?

[jumpthegun]

[Yeah, he's reading the biting reference into that. John decides not to comment either way.]

I'm not sure how 'doesn't care for me' translates to hate for you, Mr. Solomons, but that's not what I said or what I was implying. I know I upset you and you don't trust me. It doesn't make me feel any better or worse to acknowledge that.

[It just upsets him for unfathomable reasons still that the gangster's disappointment hurts him at all.]

[devoutish]

You're not the type or exaggerate or see things in the worst possible light, are you. Is that what you're saying? You see my feelings clearly, without adding anything of your own to them.

[jumpthegun]

Am I wrong about how you feel, then?

[Yeah, he's not playing your mind games, Alfie. Or he's going to try to avoid playing them.]

[devoutish]

[As much as Alfie likes trying to drag John into his mind games, he always gets a little bit of respect when he manages to avoid them.]

I've got no forgiveness and little respect for you.

[... But he still kind of likes him. Still. And little respect is not no respect.]

[jumpthegun]

So, I don't expect you'll be wanting to visit is all. Is that about right, love?

[He still remembers you calling him treacle at the beginning of this conversation, Alfie.]

[devoutish]

I'll be in the area, sweetie. I expect we'll see each other once or twice.

[jumpthegun]

Should we leave it to just seeing? I said I'd not bother you.

[devoutish]

I'm not so easily bothered that just talking to you is enough to do it.

[That's not entirely true - but he's at least calmed down a little from when he'd told Fiona I cannot be in the same house as that man. In a terrible way, him being in such bad shape now helps with that.]

[jumpthegun]

[As evinced by this conversation. A part of him wonders - hopes? - that Alfie contacted him out of some level of concern. That's incredibly stupid, though. John brushes the thought away. Alfie called because he's worried about himself, Fiona, and his other companions.]

All right. I'll see you when I see you, then, unless there's something else? Like I said, I'll let you know when I hear anything from Ms. Romanov or Mr. Stark. Or you're free to contact them directly. Expect they'll have some sort of update by the end of the day.

[devoutish]

One more thing.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

[He'd told Fiona that, when he'd first found out what really had happened to Royce. He'd purposefully not told Watson, and even insinuated a little that he might someday. But now, he'll tell him the truth.]

We've got a friend in common. Someone we both care for very much, yeah?

[jumpthegun]

['For what happened to Royce,' is how that sentence should finish off. John has no delusions about Alfie promising to give him free license to avoid threats or injury for other things in the future.]

Yeah. All right.

[And much as it pains him to say this...]

And I'll... try to stay out of your business, whatever it is. For her sake. Won't make promises, but I'll try.

[Mainly because he wants to give himself some room in case Alfie does anything truly egregious.]

[devoutish]

You'll try, yes. We both know you see yourself as not having any choice in the matter.

If you want to say it's for her sake, do better than just trying.

[jumpthegun]

I'll spare you the 'when men of good conscience' speech, shall I? [His tone is dry.]

You're right. I do have a choice - I did have a choice and I always will. Doing what's best of her will influence that choice. It's not going to be the only thing, though.